Köpetdag Nature Reserve is a

nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologic ...

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zapovednik A zapovednik is an established term on the Post-Soviet states, territory of the former Soviet Union for a protected area which is kept "forever wild". It is the highest degree of environmental protection for the assigned areas, which are strictly ...

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Turkmenistan Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ash ...

. Established in 1976 for the protection of indigenous flora and fauna ( juniper, wild fruit trees, reptiles, birds, and mammals) it is located in the central part of the

Kopetdag The Köpet Dag, Kopet Dagh, or Koppeh Dagh (; ), also known as the Turkmen-Khorasan Mountain Range, is a mountain range on the border between Turkmenistan and Iran that extends about along the border southeast of the Caspian Sea, stretching nort ...

Range in

Ahal Province Ahal Region (; from , also ) is one of five provinces of Turkmenistan. It is in the south-center of the country, bordering Iran and Afghanistan along the Kopet Dag Range. Its area is and population 886,845 (2022 census).''Statistical Yearbook ...

, covering an area of . The reserve consists of four separate areas located at different altitudes, from 700 to 2800 meters. It also incorporates two sanctuaries and two

natural monument A natural monument is a natural or cultural feature of outstanding or unique value because of its inherent rarity, representative of aesthetic qualities, or cultural significance. They can be natural geological and geographical features such as w ...

s: *

Mäne-Çäçe Sanctuary Mäne-Çäçe Sanctuary is a Protected areas of Turkmenistan, sanctuary (''zakaznik'') of Turkmenistan. It is part of Köpetdag Nature Reserve. Its purpose of creation is studying, preservation of all natural complex of the Central Köpetdag, mai ...

- established in 1976. *

Guryhowdan Sanctuary Guryhowdan Sanctuary is a sanctuary (''zakaznik'') of Turkmenistan. It is part of Köpetdag Nature Reserve Köpetdag Nature Reserve is a Protected areas of Turkmenistan, nature reserve (''zapovednik'') of Turkmenistan. Established in 1976 for ...

- established in 1976. * Garaýalçy Natural Monument. * Çarlyk Natural Monument.

Flora and Fauna

The most critically endangered species of animals are protected here, such as leopards, wild sheep, bear goats, Indian porcupines, hyenas and other species of mammals, birds, snakes and lizards. The flora in the park is characterized by plant diversity, of which 332 are endemic. The plants that have the most rare and endangered species are Liliaceae, Orchidaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae.

References

*''National Program for the Protection of the Environment'', Ashgabat, 2002, pp. 149-151

External links

* https://web.archive.org/web/20090609072344/http://natureprotection.gov.tm/reserve_tm.html Nature reserves in Turkmenistan Protected areas established in 1976 1976 establishments in the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic {{Asia-protected-area-stub